]]>A new report from The Guardian has claimed that the anonymous social network Whisper isn’t as anonymous as it claims, saying that it tracks the locations of its users, including those who have specifically opted out of geolocation tracking. It also shares user information with the US Department of Defense.

The Guardian says it witnessed the practice during a three-day visit to Whisper headquarters as part of their efforts to start a journalistic relationship with the company.

What is Whisper

For those who are not in the know, Whisper is an application that lets you share your deepest secrets, desires, or confessions with others without revealing your identity, or so it claims. The app, which is available for both Android and iOS, gets more than 3 billion page views a month and has millions of users – 70 percent female, mostly aged 18 to 24.

The way Whisper works is you write a message (could be a confession, question, feeling … anything) and the app suggests a relevant image over which the message is superimposed. Following this you can post the message, known as a whisper. Those who find your message interesting can either send you open replies or chat with you in private. The point here is that people talking to you don’t know anything about you and you do not know anything about them, allowing you to speak your mind and heart anonymously.

As you can see in the screenshot displayed below, the app categorizes whispers into three categories: Popular, Nearby, and Latest. There’s also a big + icon at the bottom centre which you can tap to create a whisper.

Note that the only identity you have at Whisper is your handle, something the app automatically creates when you write your first whisper, although you are free to change it at that time as well as at any time later from the Settings option. After I posted my first whisper, saying “I am a tech blogger trying to understand how this app works,” I was amazed to see a flood of replies and private chat notifications.

As you can see in the screenshot below, someone with the handle ‘Stoned_Smith’ answered my question in detail (my replies are in purple):

Not everyone was polite enough; I received some quite nasty replies too, which is understandable, as the app is bound to attract all kinds of people, thanks to the anonymity it claims to provide.

What the report claims

The Guardian report claims that Whisper has developed an in-house mapping tool that enables its staff to filter and search GPS data and even pinpoints messages to within 500 meters of where they were sent. The news site also claims that the app is capable of tracking an individual user’s movements over time and even extracts their rough location from IP data emitted by their devices, something which is done on a targeted, case-by-case basis.

While Whisper clearly says that it stores user data like posted content, comments, and more, only for a brief period of time, the report alleges that information related to time and location of messages posted by users is being stored indefinitely. The report adds that the company is monitoring users it believes are potentially newsworthy, including military personnel as well as individuals claiming to work at Yahoo, Disney, and on Capitol Hill.

The Guardian also says that the company is cooperating with the US Department of Defense, sharing user data with researchers investigating the frequency of mentions of suicide (or self-harm) from hand-held devices like smartphones that Whisper knows are being used from US military bases.

What Whisper has to say

Whisper has refuted the allegations, saying that there’s no truth in the article.

Whisper does not collect nor store any personally identifiable information from users and is anonymous. There is nothing in our geolocation data that can be tied to an individual user and a user’s anonymity is never compromised. Whisper does not follow or track users. The Guardian’s assumptions that Whisper is gathering information about users and violating user’s privacy are false.

The company said the above in a statement to TechCrunch, adding that The Guardian has made a mistake by publishing the story and they will regret it.

What do we think

Considering the fact that the allegations are made by a reputed publication like The Guardian, it’s a bit hard to believe Whisper’s claims that they are complete lies. Although nothing is proven yet, if the publication’s allegations are true, it only proves that users shouldn’t blindly believe the anonymity claims made by these kind of apps, and should think twice before sharing information about their personal or professional lives.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/whisper-reportedly-tracking-your-location/feed/0Where To Watch The 2014 FIFA World Cup Live Onlinehttp://www.maketecheasier.com/watch-world-cup-online/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/watch-world-cup-online/#commentsMon, 02 Jun 2014 22:25:37 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=93518This year is the year of World Cup. For those who can't catch it on TV, here are some of the ways to watch World Cup online, be it on your desktop, phone or tablet.

]]>The FIFA World Cup has been a part of our lives since 1930. Since then, every four years, this became virtually the only topic of conversation for a good portion of the year. Until recently, if you wanted to view the games, you would have to tune your television set to your national sports channel (ESPN, for example). This left us with a problem: Whenever there was a situation that needed your attention, you would have to pry your eyes off of your television set to attend to the matters. That’s not the case anymore, though. You can now whip out your tablet or your smartphone and watch the games from there! We’ll show you how.

A Caveat

It takes a ton of resources to pull together an online video stream of 64 different matches to millions of people. This is leading to two things: Many of the sites that said they might broadcast the FIFA World Cup dropped out of this sort-of commitment, and several untrustworthy streaming sites that spread malware around have taken advantage of this “opportunity”.

What I am going to do is walk you through the websites that have an extremely high probability of broadcasting the games, going in order from the most probable to the maybe-ish. Now that we got that out of the way, it’s time to start!

1: WatchESPN

The best place where you can get coverage and live streams of the FIFA World Cup this year may be in ESPN’s highly ambitious project. The broadcaster has taken it upon itself to stream all 64 games live to smartphones, tablets, personal computers, and consoles. If you want to get the stream, you can get the app for Android or iOS.

There’s a problem here, though. If you’re outside the U.S., you won’t be able to install the app. Instead, you’ll have to rely on websites that stream these events for free, which can always be risky. They might not actually stream the games reliably.

2: FIFA 2014 Broadcasting Rights List

To broadcast such a big event on the internet, companies generally have to buy the rights to it. If you want an accurate account of who is going to be broadcasting the content on the internet, your best source is FIFA’s own broadcasting rights list. The PDF can be found here.

To use the broadcasting rights list to find your country’s internet broadcasting availability, just look up your country, and then look at who has an “X” in the “Internet” checkbox on the right. The farthest-right checkbox will be filled for all stations broadcasting online. You can then visit your local station’s website and check out their live stream when the games are scheduled. To see a list of match schedules, just click here. The match times are adjusted for your local time zone.

3: Wiziwig TV

Wiziwig is a long-standing broadcast site for sports. It works by gathering live broadcasters from all different walks of the internet and putting their links in one place. Their FIFA coverage can be found here. I’ve already filtered the results so that the World Cup will be shown in a neat arrangement.

You can’t expect to get 4K coverage of the games as you would from ESPN and there are also tons of advertisement around, but it’s better than not watching anything!

Bonus: FIFATV

This doesn’t necessarily show you a live stream of games, but the YouTube channel is dedicated to providing general coverage of all FIFA events. I just thought it might be handy to have this. Go ahead and watch its videos here.

There are probably many other online sources that we have not been able to cover. Do let us know if you come across any that is not mentioned here.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/watch-world-cup-online/feed/9Google Reportedly Testing Revamped Interface for Gmail, Here’s What It Looks Likehttp://www.maketecheasier.com/google-testing-revamped-interface-for-gmail/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/google-testing-revamped-interface-for-gmail/#commentsFri, 16 May 2014 21:25:41 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=92678Google is reportedly testing a new interface for Gmail. Here's how it looks like.

]]>There’s no doubt that Google’s Gmail has established itself as one of the best services for managing emails. The team behind this success has worked day and night to ensure that users have a clean, robust, intuitive and secure platform from which they can easily manage all their virtual correspondence. Recently, according to some newly-leaked info, the app is set for a significant overhaul that will see it incorporate a completely new, modern design.

If you’re a long-time Gmail user as many of us here at MTE are, you’ll know that Gmail’s developers have ensured that their mobile as well as web services are up to scratch. While the mobile apps have been the main focus for the past couple of years, the web service, too, has been modernized to a degree, but apparently, there’s still a lot more to come.

Leaked screenshots and information show how Google may be planning to introduce a new smooth modern approach, removing its current boring tab bar on the left side on the window and replacing it with a drop-down menu. Kind of similar to what Microsoft did with the Windows 8 menus. This feature should help keep menus hidden when not in use and giving an overall feeling of minimalism.

The right-hand side will feature a Hangouts pane, which can also be collapsed/expanded at user convenience. And as far as full-screen is concerned, this look would definitely suit it, and it would be a lot easier for a user to scan over their emails at a glance.

It’s not uncommon for some folks to receive over hundreds of emails daily. Managing them can be a real issue. If left unchecked, they can build up to unmanageable levels. If Google indeed does place this new and improved system in place, which also includes a pin system to replace the current “starring” of important emails, some of these features could make the task of emailing a whole lot less cumbersome.

So, do tell us, what do you make of this new prospective look? Do you like it or not really? Be sure to share your thoughts below in the comments!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

]]>A new malicious email claiming to be from official Facebook sources is reportedly being sent to email inboxes around the world. So be extremely cautious. If you just checked your email and found an email from Facebook, approach with a lot of caution and hesitation. This latest Facebook email scam attempts to claim username and password details from innocent users, and is yet another example of the malicious scams that have been hitting the Web for the past few years.

The email itself does really do an impressive job of presenting itself in order to convince its receiver to fall into the trap. If you’ve ever received and read an email from Facebook, you’ll be familiar with the layout and colours of the email. In many ways, this scam is quite similar to the Apple ID phishing scam that came out a few months ago.

The malicious email:

The text within the email reads:

You haven’t been to Facebook for a few days, and a lot has happened while you were away.

It then states that

your messages will be deleted in a few days.

The email doesn’t care to explain any further why Facebook would suddenly want to delete your messages only after a “few days of inactivity.” However, under the disguise of two “View Messages” and “Go To Facebook” buttons, it does provide links to external websites.

The thing is, clicking either of these buttons takes the user to a third-party malicious website with the intention being to steal the username and password that is entered.

The saddest thing, considering Facebook has so many users who value their account and conversation history, is it’s likely that a fair few will be tempted to click the links to try and prevent any deletion. So please, for the sake of your account safety, don’t do it.

As we say always, if you’re reading this website, it’s fair to say you have at lease some basic tech knowledge. Having that, you should check anything and everything that looks suspicious to you, especially fake emails like these. And be sure to follow this article to help you secure your Facebook account.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/new-facebook-email-scam-beware/feed/4Join Us and Be an MTE Course Trainerhttp://www.maketecheasier.com/be-a-mte-course-trainer/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/be-a-mte-course-trainer/#respondMon, 17 Feb 2014 18:25:55 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=88287Are you great at explaining highly complex and technical tips and tricks to beginners as well as advanced users? If so, we have the perfect job for you!

]]>Do you have a love and passion for technology and the Internet? Do you like sharing your knowledge with others? Are you great at explaining highly complex and technical tips and tricks to beginners as well as advanced users? If so, we have the perfect job for you!

Make Tech Easier is looking for writers who are experienced in writing extensive tutorials and how-to guides for our Premium Courses and Tutorials – which are coming soon. You should be great at screencasting and have video editing knowledge. If this is you and you’re looking to make some extra money doing what you love, we invite you to contact us for more information.

Requirements

You must:

Be proficient in the English language.

Have at least one year of online writing and video editing experience.

Be good at explaining highly technical topics and making them easy to understand.

Be prepared to write anywhere from 3,000 – 6,000 words or more, if needed.

Have excellent communication skills and feel comfortable speaking on video.

Know how to use screencasting software and edit videos on a professional level.

Know how to take nice, clear screenshots and edit them as needed.

Know how to follow directions and follow a provided outline of chapters.

Respond in a timely fashion to messages from Editors.

Be prepared to make edits as needed and be able to meet publication deadlines.

Compensation

Free publicity and exposure to a targeted and dedicated group of Make Tech Easier readers.

Generous monetary compensation based on the length and complexity of your Course or Tutorial.

How to Apply

Write to us at “charnitafance [at] maketecheasier.com” with the subject “CT Application.”

Be sure to include the following in your email:

Your level of proficiency and experience with writing technical topics and explaining them to others.

Your years of experience as a writer.

A listing of the blogs that you’ve written for along with links to what you consider your three best articles.

Two or three course titles you’d be interested in writing if selected (these will not necessarily be assigned to you; it just gives us an idea of what you’re interested in writing about).

One sentence explaining why you would be a good fit for the job.

If you know someone else who might be interested, be sure to share this with them.

]]>Everybody knows that you need to be extremely careful and vigilant while roaming the online world, as anything is possible in the ‘cyber’ universe. Now, not everyone pays heed to this advice, nor is everybody as moral as we would hope they would be, which is the reason why we bloggers and reporters need to report on the latest scams trying to take advantage of other users. The latest malicious plan that Internet users need to be aware of is a new Apple ID phishing scam, that looks very, very deceptive.

This new latest scam does a really good job of mimicking an official email from Apple itself. The email header itself is: “Your Apple ID has been disabled for security reasons.”

A little more additional information is provided to build up the appearance of the authentic letter. Below that, the letter includes a malicious link that users are instructed to open that redirects to an untrusted destination. The full letter is embedded below:

Dear,

Your Apple ID has been disabled for security reasons.

Someone just tried to log into your Apple account from a different IP address. Penligst to verify your identity today or your account will be disabled because of the concerns we have for the safety and integrity of the Apple community.

To verify your identity, we recommend that you go to Verify Now>.

Regards, Apple

The main sole purpose of this phishing attempt is to gain access to the user’s Apple ID account. When the “Verify Now” link is clicked, the user is taken to a malicious link, which should immediately cause some concerns considering the top-level domain extension belongs to Tokelau in the South Pacific.

TUAW also rightly points out that Tokelau isn’t well the hub of Apple’s operations. Also, this specific Tokelau top-level domain was also responsible for more than 20% of phishing scams in 2010.

There are some “tells” that do tell that this email is fake. For example, no name is instructed on the top of the letter, only “Dear“. Also, Apple never tracks IP address, which is why you can log into your account from an iPhone, iPad or Mac just about anywhere. Also, “Penligst” is no word in the English language, and it’s pretty evident that Apple’s emails are always in English.

It’s also worth remembering that Apple will never request an account to be verified or a password to be reset by providing the Apple ID and current password. If you are in any doubt over the security or integrity of your Apple account then it’s always worth visiting the Apple site yourself so that you know you are going to the right place.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/new-apple-id-phishing-scam-going-around-the-web/feed/2Is Leaving Mobile Devices Turned On During a Flight Really Dangerous?http://www.maketecheasier.com/mobile-devices-turned-on-during-flight/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/mobile-devices-turned-on-during-flight/#commentsMon, 07 Oct 2013 02:15:55 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=81422Does leaving mobile devices on can really cause a hazard? Or is it a conspiracy theory that the authority leads you to believe?

]]>Since 1966, when flying, you’ve been told to turn off your electronic devices during landing and takeoff. 1991 is when rules were put into place to specifically deal with mobile devices. However, with evolving technology and few real world examples of electronic devices interfering with cockpit controls or other conspiracy theories on the matter, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has concluded that passengers should be able to use electronic devices at all stages of a flight.

Mobile Devices on a Flight Aren’t as Dangerous as We’re Led to Believe

The FAA put together the Portable Electronic Devices Advisory and Rulemaking Committee that has studied the issue, including getting recommendations from over a dozen officials who believe that Wi-Fi in particular cannot during any portion of a flight cause an issue with on-board navigation. Earlier in 2013, several independent groups published reports suggesting that using Wi-Fi capable devices should be allowed between take-off and landing, but the FAA is taking that data, along with what it’s collected, and is taking it further by recommending there’s no issue with using Wi-Fi during an entire flight.

The majority of airlines flying in the US fleet are capable of handling any issues that arise from a Wi-Fi capable device. This includes specific apps, devices and connection modes. The FAA believes that ground communication connections, such as voice and data streams, should still be turned off during flights. This has nothing to do with interference but with a Federal Communications Commission rule that prohibits any type of airborne-based cellular service in the United States. Other countries have similar laws in place.

Several airlines across the globe have begun developing and testing Wi-Fi systems buil into planes that allow passengers access during a flight. While no system is 100% ready for launch below the landing and take-off limits, there is no doubt the FAA’s findings will help move the development along into a working system within the next year to help give passengers Wi-Fi service below the 10,000 threshold.

The earliest we could see the rules change on US-based flights would be 2014 according to the FAA.

Conclusion

Just because the FAA has released this data doesn’t mean that airlines or the industry as a whole have to adopt the policy. Whenever you board a flight, remember to always follow the instructions of your flight crew. If they ask you to turn off your computer, tablet or phone – even if you think it doesn’t matter – you are required by law to follow their directions.

For now, the FAA’s findings will need to be analyzed, researched further and then developed into a plan to potentially let passengers have access to Wi-Fi services from gate-to-gate. While passengers may not understand why it is such a big deal and haven’t for years on this issue, it’s important to realize that the FAA – and other aviation organizations around the world – are working to protect them from any harm that may come from electronic devices when flying.

]]>This is a debate that isn’t going to be easily resolved in one article. When it comes to comparing the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5, they both have solid advantages and disadvantages, and they also both have their own diehard fans. The folks at Android Authority have their obvious favorite, yet decided to put the two phones to a drop test to see just who won out.

The Setup

Those guys at Android Authority have been trying to win this war for Samsung for quite some time. When the iPhone 5 first came out, they dropped it in a comparison with the Galaxy S3 and “hated to admit it at the time,” but the iPhone was the clear winner in terms of quality and sturdiness.

The reason seems to be because of the use of plastic to surround the phone. While they tout the plastic surround for aiding in the accessibility of the removable battery and microSD slot, as well as being easier to replace if it’s cracked, it turns out it doesn’t do a whole lot to protect the phone. As they point out, it’s all tradeoffs, depending on what’s more important to you.

The Test

With the Galaxy S4 now available, it was time to test it against the iPhone 5. The testers are going on the assumption that the three basic drops are from the hip while taking out of your pocket, from the chest while accessing features such as texting, and from the head from using the phone features. The Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5 were dropped separately from those three positions.

The Results

It turns out that the Galaxy S4 isn’t really any more durable than the S3. Both phones held up well when dropped from the pocket, with the iPhone 5’s aluminum casing suffering just a little damage cosmetically, and the S4 suffering no damage. When dropped form the chest, the results were the same. Again, the aluminum on the iPhone 5 was susceptible to the dings, while the plastic was unharmed.

However, the third drop for these two smartphones proved to be the deciding factor. When dropped from head level, as if losing control of it while talking on the phone, the iPhone still only had the most minor cosmetic damage. Yet, the Galaxy S4 received damage to the touch screen. At the point of impact, the corner, it was completely smashed, and while it did come apart upon impact, the phone remained usable.

Conclusion

Again, it’s a matter of tradeoffs, deciding which factors are most important to you in comparing the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5. If you decide the other advantages of a Samsung Galaxy S4 make it worth it, here are just a few ways to help protect your device.

Always treat your phone like it’s brand new and with the utmost of care.

Samsung might not be alone in this game much longer. Apple is rumored to be releasing a lower-cost iPhone soon, one that utilizes a plastic body. Maybe they’ll be able to figure out how to make a phone with a plastic body resistant to falling apart and cracking the screen.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/galaxy-s4-and-iphone-5-drop-test/feed/0Start Button in Windows 8 to Return, But Without the Start Menuhttp://www.maketecheasier.com/start-button-in-windows-8-to-return-but-without-the-start-menu/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/start-button-in-windows-8-to-return-but-without-the-start-menu/#commentsTue, 23 Apr 2013 17:25:42 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=70785The Start Button in Windows 8 was eliminated, and while Windows 8.1 is promising to bring back the Start Button, what about the Start Menu?

]]>Every time an app or operating system receives improvements, there is always something left in the dust. Sure, the improvements are great, but to allow room for them, the developers have to drop something else. Windows is no different. The Start Button in Windows 8 was eliminated, as well as the Start Menu. Windows 8.1 is promising to bring back the Start Button, but without the Start Menu.

Users weren’t very happy about Microsoft dropping the Start Button in Windows 8, and just the fear of losing it was the basis for an entire article. Even more so than losing the Start Button was losing the Start Menu. This led to even more articles being written on how to simulate having it back.

This backlash is apparently causing Microsoft to rethink a few things. The first major update to the most recent version of the OS, 8.1, will bring back the Start button. It will lead to access to the Start Screen and is said to look much like the Windows flag in the Charm bar. It’s not the only change. A plan is also in place to add an option to boot directly to the desktop environment.

That’s all well and good, but what about the Start Menu? Microsoft has no plan to bring that back, at least not with 8.1. Getting the Start Button back without the Start Menu is almost like they’re teasing users. Is the Start Button even worth having without the Start Menu?

Fret not, though. There are still plenty of options out there to get the Start Menu back, whether or not Microsoft ever plans to do anything about it. Power8 not only gives you the Start Menu back, it allows you to tweak it to your liking. In addition to Power8, there are plenty of other options that will allow you access to a simulated StartMenu.

There’s no announced date yet for the release of Windows 8.1, but expect it later this year. Remember that the Start Button coming back is as the result of customer feedback. Users can make a difference. So how about it? Will you keep complaining until you get the Start Menu back, or will having just the Start Button in Windows 8 make a return be enough? Speak up in the comments section below.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/start-button-in-windows-8-to-return-but-without-the-start-menu/feed/1Why You Might Not See Facebook Home on iOS or Windowshttp://www.maketecheasier.com/why-you-might-not-see-facebook-home-on-ios/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/why-you-might-not-see-facebook-home-on-ios/#commentsWed, 17 Apr 2013 17:25:13 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=70285Facebook Home, a launcher app, was made available to Android mobile devices. Read on to find out why it may never be available for iOS or Windows.

]]>Facebook is popping out with changes all over the place to all formats. It’s made changes to the online version of the social network seen on browsers and has also made changes to the apps for iOS and Android. Only one of these changes is truly exciting, and that’s the addition of Facebook Home. Yet, it’s only available on Android and not iOS or Windows Phone.

The main reason for Facebook Home to not be offered on the other platforms is that the Android OS is just more accessible, and that’s to both users and developers. This allowed for the development of Facebook Home, a launcher app. Use of the app gives users the ability to have an alternate homescreen and lock screen that allows for access to the Facebook features without having to open up an app or browser.

Apple doesn’t allow developers as much access to the OS. While Android allows developers access to create home or launcher apps, those same developers aren’t allowed to do the same for Apple. While some alternatives are indeed offered, they can’t be designated as permanent replacements, as Apple doesn’t allow for that.

When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was announcing Facebook Home, he even made references to this difference, seemingly slamming Apple, at least just a little bit. He noted that it’s not so easy to create apps like that for iOS, and that “ultimately anything that happens with Apple will be in partnership with them.” Not only would they have to have Apple’s consent to work on it, they’d have to work alongside them to have that type of access. Facebook faces similar issues in getting Facebook Home on Microsoft’s Windows Phone.

Despite this knowledge, fans of the iOS system were raised by Bloomberg as it reported that Facebook has been in talks with Apple and Microsoft to hopefully bring Home to those platforms as well. Facebook representatives admit, though, that Home might not be the same version being used on Android. It might just use pieces of Home, such as the lock screen or some of the design. Ultimately, how much of Android’s Home it uses would be up to Apple’s discretion.

Let’s hear what you think of Facebook Home on Android or the possibilities of it coming to iOS or Windows Phone. If you’ve used it, let us know if you think it’s a worthwhile launcher app. Does it “make tech easier” for you? If you have an iOS device or Windows Phone, are you waiting for launcher apps, and specifically Facebook Home, to be available? Speak up in the comments below.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/why-you-might-not-see-facebook-home-on-ios/feed/3Blackberry Z10: Have They Really Had More Returns Than Sales?http://www.maketecheasier.com/blackberry-z10-have-they-really-had-more-returns-than-sales/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/blackberry-z10-have-they-really-had-more-returns-than-sales/#commentsSat, 13 Apr 2013 17:25:40 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=70037Reports are stating that the BlackBerry Z10 return rates are higher than its sales. BlackBerry is disputing the report. Who's telling the truth?

]]>BlackBerry has been trying to forge a comeback. At one point it seemed to be the cellphone, the one everyone had to have. iPhones and Androids then buried it into a has-been. Now they’re trying to launch a comeback with the BlackBerry Z10, yet investment firm Detwiler Fenton is reporting that it’s not going so well, believing that they have had more returns than sales. How can that be? Simple math seems to refute that, and so does BlackBerry.

BlackBerry really wants a share of the smartphone wars, not content to let iPhone and Android have all the fun, but if reports are to be believed, it’s not going well. Detwiler analyst Jeff Johnston is quoted as saying, “We believe key retail partners have seen a significant increase in Z10 returns to the point where, in several cases, returns are now exceeding sales, a phenomenon we have never seen before.”

How do you sell something, but get even more of it returned? That just seems to defy simple elementary school math.

BlackBerry is not happy about this report at all. Reports like this are going to do nothing but harm to their potential sales. They plan on asking U.S. and Canadian regulators sometime within the next several days to probe the report by Detwiler Fenton. They find it to be both “false and misleading” and report that Detwiler refused to give them the report or explain how they determined the extremely high return rates.

Blackberry Chief Executive Thorsten Heins spoke up on behalf of the company, stating that the return rate statistics for the BlackBerry Z10 that they have seen are right in line or below what they had forecasted. “To suggest otherwise is either a gross misreading of the data or a willful manipulation. Such a conclusion is absolutely without basis, and BlackBerry will not leave it unchallenged.”

These analysts that go over the technology industry trends usually seem to be right on the mark or fairly close. Obviously this is what has BlackBerry so upset. A highly respected group has come up with facts that could clearly hurt any future sales of the BlackBerry. If consumers know that there is a possibility of gross dissatisfaction with the Z10, they’ll be likely to skip over it and either look into the new Galaxy or wait a few months for the next iPhone.

Clearly both BlackBerry and Detwiler Fenton can’t be correct. For now it’s left to consumers to decide which company has the correct facts. And if they can’t decide, they’re likely just to skip out on buying the BlackBerry Z10 altogether. It’s not worth the trouble. Who do you think is telling the truth? Is BlackBerry overconfident about the success of their phone or is Detwiler exaggerating the stats on their report? And just how do you return more phones than were sold? Comment below with your thoughts.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/blackberry-z10-have-they-really-had-more-returns-than-sales/feed/2Smartphone Maps and Driving: Should This be Outlawed?http://www.maketecheasier.com/smartphone-maps-and-driving-should-this-be-outlawed/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/smartphone-maps-and-driving-should-this-be-outlawed/#commentsThu, 11 Apr 2013 17:25:21 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=69858A motorist was fined for checking the maps app in his phone. Should smartphone maps be disabled when driving? Should checking maps when driving be illegal at all?

]]>Driving while texting has been discussed often, and it’s illegal to do so in many places, and sometimes it’s even against the law to talk on the phone while driving. This begs the question of what should be allowed on cell phones while operating a vehicle. At least some out there feel that a phone shouldn’t even be touched while driving. But what about smartphone maps and driving?

Obviously a maps app is put on a mobile phone to help you find your way. These apps are on there not so that we can take a bus or walk. They are there to help us drive. While we know we aren’t supposed to text and drive, and that some think we shouldn’t talk and drive (although most of us still do), it seems like when we want to know where our next turn is or if there is an alternate route, we should be able to check our maps app.

A motorist was stuck in a traffic jam recently and wanted to check if there were any alternate routes that would help him get moving again. He started checking out the maps on his phone, then was ordered to pull over by a police officer. He was ticketed for “distracted driving.” He fought it in court, explaining that if you can use a paper map in a car, you should be able to use a maps app. The judge decided that cell phones are a distraction no matter how they’re used.

That leaves all of us uttering, “But … but … but …” It’s hard to even formulate a response. Even smartphone maps and driving should be against the law? It seems like it should be allowed.

The judge’s point was that anything that takes your eyes off the road is a distraction. This is true. But everything takes your eyes off the road. Changing a radio station, locking your doors, turning up air conditioning, opening a window, adjusting the rear and side-view mirrors, and yes, even reading a paper map. Forget trying to fold it up again while you’re driving. Why are other things worse just because they involve a smartphone?

Ideally that’s why cars are now being manufactured with many of the controls on the steering wheel and column, to keep your eyes where they belong. Ideally that’s why Siri and other voice control apps exist so that we can ask for it verbally and not have to take our eyes off the road. That’s why turn-by-turn navigation is necessary in map apps, so that the app can tell us where to turn and so we don’t have to look.

But as smart as our smartphones are, they will never be as logic as we are. I don’t want the phone choosing my route all the time, as oftentimes they can be wrong. Sure, I should have examined it before I left, but if I do get stuck in a traffic jam. I want to know if the route I asked Siri for will avoid the traffic jam. Siri doesn’t know that. I would know from looking. And if I’m in a traffic jam, I’m not moving anyway.

Now that this distracted driving debate is being expanded to include smartphone maps and driving, it’s clear it’s not a closed topic. There are good arguments on both sides, but the perfect solution seems to be that it should be allowed some of the time, but not all of the time, yet laws don’t function that way. What do you think? Should maps apps be allowed while driving or should phones not be touched at all at any time by someone operating a vehicle?

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/smartphone-maps-and-driving-should-this-be-outlawed/feed/5Is It Time to Give Website Forums Their Last Rites?http://www.maketecheasier.com/is-it-time-to-give-website-forums-their-last-rites/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/is-it-time-to-give-website-forums-their-last-rites/#commentsMon, 08 Apr 2013 17:25:14 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=69552With the onset of social networking, use of the old website forums has waned. A new startup, Moot, wants to put them to use again, but is it too late?

]]>Most websites used to operate basically the same. There was a main index, categories containing the individual articles, ads, maybe a few widgets on the side, and a forum. Readers could either comment directly on posts, or they could head to a forum area that discussed all topics covered on the website. But with the onset of social networking, use of the old website forums has definitely waned. A new startup, Moot, wants to make forums useful again, but is it too late, and is there even a need anymore?

Moot allows for more flexibility and combinations between commenting and forums and types of comments and forums. Additionally, to add it into your site, you only need to copy and paste a code. Anyone familiar with adding a phpBB forum to their site knows how much of a benefit that is. What really seems to make a difference with Moot, though, is in the way it emulates the social networking discussions. You can create your own feed of just the conversations you’re following, whether it be from article comments or forum discussions.

However, the question remains if this is too little, too late for the idea of forums. There was a time when friendships were born amidst the setting of a forum among people with common interests. Those people seem to have moved on, though, and have moved their relationships to Facebook, setting up groups there. Forums aren’t a necessity for users. They don’t need a forum anymore.

It’s the websites that need the forum. Not for people to have somewhere to post, as that can be done with a Facebook page dedicated to the site. But once you send readers to Facebook to enjoy discussion, they’ve already left your site. Once they’re on Facebook and commenting there, they stay on Facebook checking out their news feed and messages. You’ve lost them from your site, at least from that session. To run a successful site, you need to keep readers there as long as you can.

Taking forums to the next level and adding some social network benefits into them is a great idea for a website. If they can add in the same benefits of a Facebook or Twitter, there’s a chance that maybe there will be a new evolution of forums on the horizon.

Do you still use website forums? Or is it enough to just have me ask you to comment below? How would all of this change your user experience?

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/is-it-time-to-give-website-forums-their-last-rites/feed/4Using Your Brainwaves to Trigger the “Do-Not-Disturb” Feature: Helpful or Intruding?http://www.maketecheasier.com/using-brainwaves-to-trigger-do-not-disturb/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/using-brainwaves-to-trigger-do-not-disturb/#respondFri, 05 Apr 2013 17:25:05 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=69427Apple's iOS rolled out a feature last year called Do Not Disturb that allows you to set it up to prevent calls during certain times of the day. It might not stop there. Neuroscientist Ruggero Scorcioni debuted a new automatic do-not-disturb technology via a smartphone app at an AT&T event this week. Is this going to be helpful or intruding?

]]>Apple’s iOS rolled out a feature last year called Do Not Disturb that allows you to set it up to prevent calls during certain times of the day. It might not stop there. Neuroscientist Ruggero Scorcioni debuted a new automatic do-not-disturb technology via a smartphone app at an AT&T event this week.

Scorcioni’s technology measures your brain activity using a standard headset that works with your phone via Bluetooth. If your activity rises to a certain level, the app will hold calls for you. He promises that it could also be used to hold email notifications and other phone activity until your brain isn’t so busy.

At first thought, this automatic do-not-disturb technology seems great and like it would be an extreme help. But then, the more thought that is given to it, it starts to seem somewhat intruding. We’re adults and have moved beyond having someone tell us when we can and when we can’t do something.

Additionally, some of us have Type A personalities and welcome interruptions even though we’re working really hard. Or at least some interruptions. I don’t want the interruptions of the notifications of junk mail that I get, but I do want work-related email notifications. I do want to get email notifications from my family. I do want to know if someone is commenting on something on my Facebook, but I do not want the notifications inviting me yet again to Farmville to interrupt me.

While it’s great that this technology is smart enough to pick up our brainwaves and to know when we’re working hard or hardly working, it needs to be smart in other ways as well. It needs to be able to be set to allow certain interruptions, just as iOS’ Do Not Disturb feature does. Yet it needs to go beyond just withholding certain people in our address book and working during certain times of the day. It also needs to allow interruptions from some apps, but not others, and from some Facebook notifications, but not others.

What do you think about the automatic do-not-disturb feature measuring your brainwaves to know when it should allow you to keep working? Would you welcome this app on your phone or would it be something that you wouldn’t even bother to download? Let us know in the comments below how you feel about Ruggero Scorcioni’s new technology.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/using-brainwaves-to-trigger-do-not-disturb/feed/040 Years of Cell Phones: Have they Changed Your Life?http://www.maketecheasier.com/40-years-of-cell-phones-have-they-changed-your-life/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/40-years-of-cell-phones-have-they-changed-your-life/#respondThu, 04 Apr 2013 07:40:21 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=69371The first cell phone call was placed in 1973. How have these forty years of cell phones changed our lives?

]]>It may be hard to believe, but this week we celebrate forty years of cell phones. The first cell phone call was placed in 1973, but these devices didn’t begin to change our lives until the last ten to fifteen years. Think of how different our lives would be today had former Motorola Vice President and division manager Martin Cooper not made that first call on a cell phone while standing on Sixth Avenue in front of the New York Hilton.

Cooper touched something off with that call, even if it did take several years before they began to impact all of our lives. He was using Motorola’s DynaTAC handset. It was so different than the Androids and iPhones that we use today that it weighed over two pounds. It certainly didn’t fit in Cooper’s pocket, and there was no talk of how big the screen was or the resolution of the camera. It was just a phone, and a big one at that.

Even Cooper is surprised at all the changes that have been made to cell phones over these forty years, yet he sees all these additional things added to cell phones as “essentially useless.” He beleives all the things today’s cell phone can do can be done much more effectively elsewhere. This is true, but you still can’t beat the convenience.

In these forty years of cell phones, they have gone from huge devices meant solely for making and receiving calls on-the-go to pocket-sized devices that can do nearly everything a computer can do. While Cooper is thinking that all of these things on a cell phone are “essentially useless,” I’m thinking of how all these things have changed my life.

I don’t have to worry about carrying a camera to special events. I always have one with me on my iPhone. If I’m out shopping and want to buy something, but I’m not sure how much money is left in the checking account, I can check that on a bank app. While I’m waiting at a doctor’s office, I don’t have to read their magazines; I can either get work done or read my own magazine on my iPhone. I know where my kids are, because we keep in touch via our cell phones. And I don’t have to go as far as to call someone every time I want them to know just a little thing that just occurred to me. I can text them instead.

I went out to dinner one night last week and forgot to bring my phone. I noticed it within five minutes of being gone, but didn’t want to go back for it. I didn’t want it just in case someone called. I wanted to be able to text the people we were meeting up with to tell them we’d be late. I wanted it to snap some pictures of the gathering. I wanted to check my calendar for appointments for the following week and wanted to check my email. I was lost without it.

In these forty years of cell phones, they have completely changed my life, and I think they have changed most others as well and become more than just a phone with features that aren’t “essentially useless.” What do you think? Have cell phones changed your life or do you mainly just use it as a phone and see all the other options as useless?

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/40-years-of-cell-phones-have-they-changed-your-life/feed/0Bored on Hold? Apple Patent Could Fix Thathttp://www.maketecheasier.com/bored-on-hold-apple-patent-could-fix-that/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/bored-on-hold-apple-patent-could-fix-that/#respondWed, 03 Apr 2013 17:25:18 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=69212We've all been in that position before. You're in the middle of a call, and you're put on hold. You only expect it to take a few seconds, but before you know it, you've been on hold forever, or at least it seems like it. With a smartphone in your hand, though, especially an iPhone, you shouldn't ever be bored.

]]>It seems like in the last few months that Apple has been applying for a lot of patents. Technology news seems to feature a new one every week. They’re all interesting and very innovative, but the latest seems to be the most useful. The latest Apple patent shows the technology for an iPhone displaying useful and adaptive information while the user is on hold.

We’ve all been in that position before. You’re in the middle of a call, and you’re put on hold. You only expect it to take a few seconds, but before you know it, you’ve been on hold forever, or at least it seems like it. You want to hang up, but are sure the person you are calling will be back any minute. With a smartphone in your hand, though, especially an iPhone, you shouldn’t ever be bored.

Apple has been granted a patent that they refer to as a “Communications system that provides user-selectable data when user is on hold.” Because it’s selected by the user and adaptable, it can be either information to kill time or information that directly relates to the call you’re on.

The suggestions for this information include weather reports, local news, upcoming calendar events, and unchecked messages. Music is even a suggested option. How many times have you wished you could listen to your own music instead of the canned music playing while you’re on hold? It can even make it adaptive to give you information directly related to the caller you are connected with, such as your last correspondence with that person, your upcoming meetings with that person, etc. It goes even further than that, though, as the system will pick up contextual clues from your conversation to know what type of data to offer to you.

This would work along with the call waiting system. You would create a profile that includes the information you would like displayed when you’re on hold. When the system determines you’re on hold, or when you alert your phone that you’re on hold, the Apple patent shows that the data you have chosen would pop up on the screen.

It all sounds really great, but where this Apple patent might come into problems is in offering you information about the caller. Some private individuals are already upset about information that is shared about them on the Info Highway, and this would certainly have some upset. People are often worried that details such as their financial information could be culled and used, and any time a device has smart knowledge about them it causes them to balk.

However, it’s hard to hold back technology once it’s out there. If this ends up being a patent that Apple acts on and uses, it could be something that spreads beyond just iPhones and could be used on other smartphones, as it’s that innovative. It could even be used by businesses such as doctors’ offices. They seem to put you on hold automatically anyway, and now when they do, they would know who you are, when you’re next appointment is, when you were in last, any recent tests you had done, etc.

There doesn’t seem to be an end to the possibilities of this adaptive on-hold system. What do you think of this latest Apple patent? Would you be upset with your information displaying on someone’s phone when you put them on hold or would you welcome this intrusion? Let us know below in the comment section.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/bored-on-hold-apple-patent-could-fix-that/feed/0Pandora vs iRadio: Who Will Win The Internet Radio Business?http://www.maketecheasier.com/pandora-vs-iradio-who-will-win-the-internet-radio-business/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/pandora-vs-iradio-who-will-win-the-internet-radio-business/#respondMon, 01 Apr 2013 17:25:49 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=69116Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch their own service later this year. iRadio will be similar to what we already have, but will probably keep us on iTunes and not have us leaving it to listen to streaming music. How will it affect the ways we listen to music?

]]>We don’t really think about it normally, but there’s a huge business behind Internet Radio. It looks like Pandora and iRadio may end up fighting over our business, and with the existing success of Pandora and the behemoth that Apple is, it could end up being a monumental fight. You may want to set your chair out now to reserve your spot in line for this fight.

It looks like soon both Pandora and iRadio will be offering an Internet radio music streaming service. Pandora has been on the scene since 2000, offering music for free. It offers recommendations based on the music it knows you enjoy. Sometimes it works really well, where you happen upon great suggestions, and other times it happens upon suggestions that have you hitting the forward button too often. Nevertheless, it’s become extremely popular and has spawned similar services such as Spotify.

Apple wants in on this. It’s not enough for them to have the most popular download service with iTunes. They want more. They want to also be our source for Internet radio. They are reportedly gearing up to launch their own service later this year. iRadio will be similar to what we already have, but will probably keep us on iTunes and not have us leaving it to listen to streaming music. Because it’s being launched by Apple, it’s bound to be successful, that is if we ignore their efforts with Ping.

Who’s the winner here, other than us? That answer would be the music labels. It’s been a concern for quite some time that the music industry could be in danger because of the growing lack of physical media. However, Pandora accounted for twenty-five percent of the labels’ revenue last year, and Pandora is trying to lower that royalty fee it pays from the 12 cents it currently pays per one hundred songs. This is despite them already paying less than others, with Spotify being treated like the redheaded stepchild, paying 35 cents per one hundred songs.

Apple must be figuring that the record labels will welcome them into the fold eagerly, as they are offering to pay the labels 6 cents per one hundred songs. They’re going to hurt Pandora one way or another. They’re going to be stealing away at least some of Pandora’s business. Additionally, they could end up in a dispute over fairness of different companies paying different royalties, and it could end up before Congress with the Internet Radio Fairness Act.

As consumers, it won’t hurt us one bit. It will only add to our choices. Pandora, Spotify, and all other slightly different services. I turn on whichever one is going to give me what I want at that current moment. iRadio is going to be no different and will just offer us another choice, no matter what royalties they’re paying. There’s really no way for iRadio to not be a success.

Are you an Internet radio listener? What’s your favorite service? Will Pandora and iRadio will end up competing for your business? Who will win?

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/pandora-vs-iradio-who-will-win-the-internet-radio-business/feed/0The New Google Chat Service: Do We Need Another One?http://www.maketecheasier.com/do-we-need-another-google-chat-service/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/do-we-need-another-google-chat-service/#commentsSun, 31 Mar 2013 17:25:06 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=68956Later this year a new Google chat service will be introduced. More and more details are beginning to emerge about the service, but do we need more chatting?

]]> Later this year, a new Google chat service will be introduced. More and more details are beginning to emerge about the service, ahead of the expected unveiling at the annual Google I/O Developers Conference. Do we really need yet another chat service?

This new Google Chat service will have the name of Babel, although it was previously being identified as Babble. Babble might have been an easier one to pass through, however, as there is already a site with the name of Babel that allows chatting internationally. That’s going to get very confusing, although there is no current trademark on the name.

The new Babel chat will unify all chat services under Google. Instead of having different features and abilities from Google product to Google product, such as Google+, Gmail, Google Drive, etc., it will all be one unified service. Additionally, it will work seamlessly across platforms, whether it’s Chrome, Android, or iOS.

The features of Babel will allow you to access the same conversation from anywhere and will have a new conversation-based UI. There will be advanced group conversations with notifications across all devices. It will also allow you to send pictures within the chat.

This all sounds great, but do we really need yet another chatting service? We have Skype, Oovoo, Facebook, and a whole host of other apps and services, each with a slightly different feature set, allowing you peruse documents, draw on a whiteboard, talk via live video, etc. So with all of that, why do we need yet another service?

The answer seems to be in what Google has planned. Google, no different than any of the other big tech companies, seems to be trying to keep their users from straying to different companies, apps, or services. If a user is checking out their mail in Gmail, then decides to enter into a chat, they want to keep the user there on Google. They don’t want them going to Skype, Facebook, etc.

Of course we don’t need yet another chat service. But Google needs us to stay with their products and not go elsewhere. Because they’re Google, they know we’ll at least try out their chat service. And for anyone who is already using their existing chat services, they’ll of course stick with this one as well. It’s not a service that’s needed. It’s just one that is going to get used whether we need it or not.

Will you have a use for the new Google Chat service or will you just stick with your existing chat services regardless? Chime in below in the comments area and let us know what you think.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/do-we-need-another-google-chat-service/feed/3Apple iPhone: Why Is It the Most Hacked Mobile Device?http://www.maketecheasier.com/apple-iphone-why-is-it-the-most-hacked-mobile-device/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/apple-iphone-why-is-it-the-most-hacked-mobile-device/#respondSat, 30 Mar 2013 01:10:28 +0000http://www.maketecheasier.com/?p=68935While Apple has been trying all their means to prevent people from jailbreaking and hacking of their device, it is not surprising to know that the iPhone is the most hacked mobile device around. They question is... why?

]]>The hacking of mobile devices has been going on for quite some time, at least as long as they’ve had Apple iPhones. The iPhone was revolutionary, yet still had people clamoring for more. They eagerly started jailbreaking the iPhone just to get even more out of it. Yet, even though the iPhone is no longer so widely regarded as revolutionary, it’s still the most hacked mobile device … by far.

Source Fire, a web security company issued a report, “25 Years of Vulnerabilities.” It searches for the Critical Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) of different software and mobile devices. This report found that the iPhone had 210 detected CVEs, while the Android only had 24. Yet, as far as numbers go, the Android is the closest to the iPhone in number of CVEs.

In terms of popularity, however, Android and iPhone are fairly close and nearly equal, depending on which poll you choose to follow. Why the disparateness? What is it about the iPhone that makes it so desirable to be hacked, leaving it as the most hacked mobile device?

There are a few different reasons for the Apple iPhone to be so vulnerable. One of these reasons is the extreme success of the company. Apple was the top company on Wall Street for quite some time. This factor alone makes them extremely vulnerable. Everyone wants to bring down the top dog. There’s a certain pleasure in being able to say that they aren’t so tough as you cracked their code.

It seems like the more Apple keeps their wares and knowledge locked up, the more vulnerable they become. Apple is always so secretive, from their technology to their products to their releases. Conversely, Android features an open platform, meaning they there are no secrets. It’s just not as fun to hack them. There’s no challenge.

Of course jailbreaking a mobile device isn’t the only reason they are hacked. They’re also hacked to steal information. Think of the information you have stored on your phone. Everything from text messages to pictures to your address book to saved documents. It can all be found on your phone, and if your phone is easily hacked, so is all of your precious information.

This means if you have an Apple iPhone, your precious data is that much more vulnerable just by virtue of the brand of device you own. It’s not because the iPhone isn’t safe; it’s just because of the extreme success of the company and because they themselves are so secretive. It makes all your info vulnerable.

Does this change your mind about having an iPhone? Will the knowledge of it being the most hacked mobile device make you buy an Android or other brand of mobile phone? Speak up and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

]]>http://www.maketecheasier.com/apple-iphone-why-is-it-the-most-hacked-mobile-device/feed/0Insync: A Google Drive Alternative Emerges From Betahttp://www.maketecheasier.com/insync-a-google-drive-alternative-emerges-from-beta/ http://www.maketecheasier.com/insync-a-google-drive-alternative-emerges-from-beta/#respondWed, 27 Mar 2013 01:50:07 +0000http://maketecheasier.com/?p=68668Insync is out of beta and offering itself us as a Google Drive alternative at a one-time only price of $9.99 per Google account.

]]>Is Google Drive just not enough for you? You might not be alone, and you also might be in luck. Insync, not to be confused with the boy band NSYNC, is out of beta and offering itself up as a Google Drive alternative on both the Mac and Windows platforms.

Insync was originally “Dropbox for Google users.” This was back when Google Drive was still Google Docs. Once Google relaunched Google Docs as a Dropbox-like client and renamed it Google Drive, Insync made some adjustments of their own. They decided to compete directly with Google Drive and offer functions lacking with the Google service.

Co-founder and CEO Terence Pua states that they started asking users what they needed and found they were looking for “multiple account support and being able to watch any folder outside of the Insync folder’s location.” Designed for power users, it also offers built-in sharing, permissioning, better onboarding, and selective syncing of folders and files. Additionally, users can keep their own folder hierarchy.

But the best part is the pricing. The Insync Pro Plan offers a 15-day free trial, with no credit card and a one-time fee of $9.99 per Google account. A business edition price will be released in a few weeks, and that will include an admin dashboard and centralized billing.

For my own needs right now, I don’t need what Insync is offering. Yet I’m sure there are plenty of power users who do. For my own personal needs, I use a combination of cloud storage services. I have a few things stored in Google Drive that are shared with other users. I store all my articles and things I want to remember in Evernote, and I have all of my iPad files backed up to Dropbox. However, I did try it out with my Make Tech Easier Google account, and I have to say I like how it added a folder with all my MTE Google Drive files to the sidebar of my Finder folder.

I do like the price of Insync, though. Services like Evernote charge their power users monthly, and services like Dropbox and Google Drive are free. Here’s a service offering a one-time fee of just under $10. However, I have four Google accounts. Suddenly $40 isn’t as attractive. What I really like, though is that you aren’t required to leave a credit card number for the trial. I hate trial periods where I have to leave my credit card number, as I know I’m the type to forget to go back and cancel. I appreciate not having to use my credit card until after the free trial is done.

Cloud storage is just in its infancy. It’s only just beginning. There are bound to be other services and companies that will come along and do it better than Google Drive, Evernote, and Dropbox. Each of them offers cloud storage just a little differently than the other. It’s all a matter of finding the right service or combination of services for your needs.

Will you be giving Insync a try? Does what they are offering appeal to you? Let us know in the comments below.